Did you know that motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children age 1 to 13 in the USA? The fatality rate could be reduced by about half if the correct child safety seat were always used. During Child Passenger Safety Week (September 14-20) hosted by The Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration you will be able to learn safety tips and attend a free car seat check.
Safety seats, if used correctly, dramatically reduce the risk of fatality or injury to children. However, research shows that three out of every four car seats are not used correctly, meaning the child is not in the correct car seat for their age, height and weight, or the car seat is not installed correctly. In 2012, over one third (37%) of children killed in car crashes were not in car seats or wearing seat belts.
Passenger Safety Week is a great time to figure out if your child is in the right seat by visiting SaferCar.gov/TheRightSeat . This site will help you determine if your child is in the correct seat for their age, weight and height. This is also a great week to determine if your seat is installed properly. You can attend a free car seat check and check out some great resources that are linked below.
- Installation Resources: If a car seat is not installed correctly, your child’s safety could be in danger. Every car seat has different installation instructions. You can find resources and tips here to help you get “the right fit” on your car seats: http://www.safercar.gov/
parents/RightFit.htm - Free Car Seat Checks: During Child Passenger Safety Week, there will be more than 600 events in 45 states across the country, where certified child passenger safety technicians will inspect car seats and show parents and caregivers how to correctly install and use them. In most cases, this service is free of charge. Locate a car seat check event here: http://www.safercar.gov/cpsApp/cps/index.htm